Nikita Tszyu has gone and reignited one of the biggest controversies in Australia’s recent boxing history, warning Michael Zerafa during a fiery public face off: “Don’t go asking your coach to cut you again”.
Only a week out from the all-Australian grudge match that is Zerafa versus Tszyu, Fox Sports Australia can reveal ‘The Butcher’ has publicly questioned the headspace of Australia’s boxing bad boy – while also reviving his infamous walkout on older brother Tim Tszyu four years ago.
N. Tszyu vs Zerafa | Friday 16 Jan from 7pm AEDT | The trash talk and bitterness come to a head when Nikita Tszyu steps into the ring to face Michael Zerafa in one of the most anticipated fights in Australian boxing history. Plus Nelson Asofa-Solomona’s pro debut | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports
In fact, when the pair squared off in Sydney recently — meeting in the ring before Tim’s comeback win over American Anthony Velazquez – Nikita even goaded his rival by suggesting he not ask his coach to cut him again.
The surprise sledge was in response to Zerafa’s former trainer Sam Labruna having alleged his charge had been so concerned about fighting Tim Tszyu, he asked the team to deliberately cut him open in fight week and sabotage the event.
While Zerafa has always vehemently denied the claim, Nikita confirmed he delivered the line to Zerafa in a moment that has remained private until now, given it wasn’t picked up during the Main Event broadcast.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week however, Tszyu explained that as the pair were finishing their face off, and before leaving the ring, he told Zerafa “don’t go asking your coach to cut you again”.
“And that’s always been the rumour, right?” Tszyu grinned.
“That Michael wanted so badly out of his fight with Tim, he asked Sam Labruna to cut him open.
“And whether it’s true or not, I can’t say. But Labruna has said it happened.
“And I definitely feel there could be some truth there, too. That Michael probably did try to get out of the fight.
“And so that’s what I reminded him about in the ring.
“I just repeated to him what I’ve heard.”
Zerafa caused national sporting outrage in 2021 following his decision to withdraw only days out from the Tim Tszyu fight, initially citing travel issues related to the Covid pandemic.
Yet when speaking about the episode with News Corp a year later – and while locked in a legal battle with Zerafa — Labruna alleged ‘Pretty Boy’ had simply wanted out of the fight, and was willing to fake injury to ensure it happened.
“This is the truth on the Tszyu fight,” Labruna said. “I have never spoken about this before.
“Zerafa wanted us to cut his eyes in the gym and say it happened in sparring. Michael gets very worked up in his head before fights.”
In the same article, Zerafa blasted suggestions he was scared of taking on Tszyu, replying: “That is absolute rubbish.
“Honestly, who comes up with this stuff? ‘Hey, bro, can you cut me open because I don’t want to fight Tim Tszyu’? Anybody who believes that is as stupid as Sam Labruna.
“I’ve had 34 pro fights. I’ve never shied away from a fight. He is just delusional and bad things happen to bad people.”
There is no doubting the Tszyu-Zerafa drama was a crazy time for all involved.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia in November 2022, Zerafa revealed he had even been forced to seek protection from Victorian police – including the Echo Taskforce — after being warned a contract had been taken out on his life.
While refusing to go into detail, the Melburnian suggested the incident was almost certainly linked to the fallout from his controversial withdrawal, at the 11th-hour, from the Tszyu superfight.
“Things got really dark,” Zerafa revealed at the time. “I’d been told by people that I had a hit out on me.
“Obviously I couldn’t take that lightly so I went to the police, made statements, it was out of control.
“Nobody knew how true the threat was but the police were involved, Echo (Taskforce) was involved … it was chaos.
“The cops even had me mix things up every day and change my whole routine, even change the way I drove to the gym.”
Pushed on the alleged contract, Zerafa continued: “I have no idea what was behind it, but I was receiving messages saying I had a hit out on me.
“And mentally, it got really hard.”
Asked why he had never revealed, in detail, why he withdrew from the Tszyu bout — which also saw him part ways with his old management team – Zerafa said, legally, he could do little more than confirm he had been “lied to”.
“The decision I made (to withdraw) is something I’ll have to live with for the rest of my life,” he said.
“But still, nobody else has any idea what really happened.
“And if people did hear the full story, I know they would all apologise (for criticising him).”
Tszyu and Zerafa will kick off fight week festivities with a face off in Brisbane today, and after having done the same at a Melbourne media gathering on Thursday.
Speaking after the press event in his home city, Zerafa suggested this Friday’s showdown is a bigger challenge for him than any fight with the big brother who doubles as a former world champion.
“I think this fight is a bigger fight than me and Tim,” he insisted.
“I think the build up between Tim and I could be bigger, but in terms of the fight itself and the performance, this one is bigger.
“And on paper, you should be backing me.
“Respectfully, Nikita hasn’t fought the guys I’ve fought.
“I think me being the favourite is the smart option but I’m not looking too much into that, I’ve just got to get in there and get the job done.”
Elsewhere, Zerafa also took aim at the younger Tszyu sibling, branding him “hot and cold”.
“Sometimes he’s on, sometimes he’s off,” Zerafa started. “And you never know what Nikita is going to rock up.
“But I think he’s a hungry kid and my name to him is a world title fight.
“I definitely want the best version of Nikita to rock up.
“Because when it doesn’t go his way, I don’t want any excuses.
“I know he’s hungry, I know he wants to take my head off my shoulders, so I’ve got to go out there clear minded and stick to the gameplay.”
And as for what a win does for him?
“I think winning against any Tszyu would be amazing for me,” he continued.
“I know people want Nikita to knock me out but I plan on doing the same.
“Either way someone will be looking up at the roof.
“So expect fireworks.”
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